Inhaler



United States Patent 3,255,750 INHALER Sam Schwartzman, Deforest Corners, Brewster, N.Y.,

and Gilbert Schwartzman, Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Filed Dec. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 330,427 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-198) This invention relates to a device for relieving nasal congestion and particularly to a refillable nasal inhaler which is an improvement over our copending application Serial No. 230,085, filed October 12, 1962, for Nasal Inhalator, now Patent No. 3,198,193, dated August 3, 1965 of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

Various types of nasal inhalers have been devised in the past in which medicaments, including benzedrine, L-desoxyephedrine, carbonate, ephedrine, menthol, camphor, eucalyptol, thymol, and other aromatics or the like have been packaged in a container provided with a projection for insertion into a nostril of the nose so that the vapors from the medication can be inhaled into the nasal passages to clear nasal and sinus congestion. These prior nasal inhalers had been adapted for use in only one of the nostrils at a time by requiring that the other nostril be closed manually so that better suction of the medicamentvapors can be attained.

In accordance with the concept of the present invention, our nasal inhaler is provided with a pair of ogiveshaped projections which are adapted to be simultaneously inserted in both of the nostrils of the user's nose whereby the medicament vapors can be inhaled into both nostrils simultaneously to clear the nasal and sinus passages. This is brought about by the fact that there is provided an opening in the housing of the inhaler specially located to provide for optimum flow of air to pick up the desired medications and by the fact that the projections are ogive-shaped so as not to expand the nostrils beyond the possibility of comfortably inserting two separate projections into both of the nostrils simultaneously. The ogive shape permits a good seal of the flesh surrounding each nostril opening to be had while permitting comfortable insertion of both projections into both nostrils. Further, by the arrangement aiforded, it is possible to insert only one projection into a single nostril as may be desired.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a nasal inhaler having means for permitting the refilling thereof in a conventient manner and which is adapted to be molded out of suitable synthetic plastic materials whereby a highly attractive and extraordinarily eifective medication dispensing device is attained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nasal inhaler with means for controlling flow of air through medications within the nasal inhaler so that an optimum amount of medication is picked up by the air.

Another object of the invention is to provide for ventilation of a nasal inhaler as to provide against restriction and elimination of the possibility of forming a vacuum, which could render the inhaler uncomfortable to the user, while providing for a reservoir air chamber and for optimum'flow of air.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the nasal inhaler comprises a housing in which a casing is removably seated. The housing has side walls and has a deep contoured groove in the top wall which extends beyond the housing and which is provided with a pair of spaced ogive-shaped projections. The deep groove in the top wall is for accommodating portions of the nose. The opening in the housing extends through the groove. A wadding of absorbent material is disposed in the housing and extends into the projections ice on either side of a chamber in alignment with the open ing, the chamber forming an air reservoir. Medicament may be poured onto the wadding so that the aromatic vapors thereof may be inhaled through projections in the perforations into the nostrils of the users nose, and air will flow through the opening, through the chamber and thence through the entire length of the wadding.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a nasal inhaler which is simple in construction, capable of being manufactured by mass production methods, which is provided with means providing easy access to the wadding, and which is relatively inexpensive to produce, thereby permitting wide use and distribution.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide closure means for the opening as a part of the top serving to firmly hold the top in place while reducing the flow of air.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this inhaler, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the inhaler;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the nasal inhaler shown in a closed position with the top secured to the housing, with parts of the inhaler being in section showing details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the inhaler ill-ustrating the manner of use thereof;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the plane of line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane of line 5-5 in FIG. 3 illustrating the invention with the top added to show the relative relation of parts and the manner of sealing off the perforations in the projections by the top and the sealing oil of the opening in the housing; and,

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the top taken along the plane of line 66 in FIG. 2.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates an illustrative embodiment of the nasal inhaler comprising the present invention. The nasal inhaler 10 includes main parts, a housing 12, a wadding 14 in the housing, a top 16, and a base 18 secured to the housing 12.

The housing 12 is in the form of a hollow container open at its bottom end 20 and having rectangular peripheral walls 22 which are provided with upper p0rtions 24 of reduced thickness forming a shoulder 26 so that when the top 16 is positioned over the casing 14, the lower edge 28 of the top will engage the shoulder 26. The top 16 has an upper wall 30 and rectangular side walls 32.

The top 16 has a pair of projections 34 and 36 of truncated conical shape depending from the inner surface 38 of the upper wall 30. There is an elongated plunger 40 which also depends from the inner surface of the top wall 30.

The top wall 56 of the housing 12, as can be seen best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is further provided with a deep arcuate groove 58 centrally disposed between two rectangular portions 52 and 54 of the top wall 56. Two spaced ogive-shaped projections 60 and 62 rise from the top wall 56 and which are hollow and communicate with the interior of the housing 12. The portion of the top wall 56 having the groove 58-therein is provided with a hole 59 therein for receiving the plunger 40. The ogiveshaped projections are provided with perforations or apertures 64, 66 in their uppermost ends and are spaced from each other on either side of the groove 58 so as to readily fit into the nostrils of the nose N, see FIG. 3, of a patient or user. These ogive-shaped projections are so constructed that they do not distort the nostrils or nasal passages to the extent that conventional nasal inhaler push aside the various portions of the nose to fill the nostril. This is because when projetcions 60 and 62 are used in the manner shown in FIG. 3, the nostrils are entirely filled up so that good suction is attained and the patient inhaling and using the nasal inhaler will receive the entire benefit of the medication which is disposed on and saturates a cotton wadding 70 in the housing 12 and which extends into the projections 60 and 62. If, for example, conventionally-shaped projections, instead of ogive-shaped projections were to be used, the nostrils would be distorted, and the user rendered most uncomfortable. However, the ogive-shaped projections fit conveniently and comfortably into the nostrils of the nose with the dividing bridge between the nostrils of the nose seating in the groove 58 is a comfortable manner.

Alternatively, the nasal inhaler may be used for inhalation through a single nostril by merely positioning one of the projections into the nostril and closing the other nostril, by either using the fingers of the hand holding the nasal inhaler or the finger of the other hand.

The interior of the housing 12 is provided with a pair of partitions 42 and 44 which divide the housing 12 into three chambers 46, 47 and 48. The wadding 70 fills chambers 46 and 48, while the chamber 47 remains empty.

The bottom 18 is adapted to be press fitted into the open bottom end 20 of the housing 12 and to this end has a peripheral wedge-shaped wall 88 which resiliently engages the inner surfaces of the peripheral walls 22. The bottom further has a base wall 90 of larger dimensions than wall 88 so as to form a flange 92 which lies flush with the outer surface of peripheral walls 22. The wall 88 forms a compartment 94 for air circulation. Removal and replacement of the bottom 18 permits addition of inhalant medication onto the wadding 70.

The nasal inhaler is preferably used as shown in FIG. 3. The user inhales a medication consisting of various types of aromatic or volatile medicaments, such as ephedrine, menthol, camphor, eucalpytol, thymol, benzedrine, or the like or any combination thereof, as conventionally employed in nasal inhalers. This medication may be carried in a suitable mineral oil base or the like and because of the construction of this nasal inhaler, the medication may be replaced by merely pouring additional medication onto the cotton wadding 70 after the bottom 18 has been removed from the housing 12. When the wadding 70 has been so saturated with the medication, the wadding 70 may be entirely removed and new wadding 70 added in a convenient manner whereby additional medication may be employed.

With the cover 16 removed, air bearing medication vapors is inhaled into the nostrils. To replace the inhaled air, additional air is sucked into chamber 47 through hole 59. Such air then passes through compartment 94 and thence through the whole length of wadding 70 picking up vapors. This insures that air sucked into the nostrils will be laden with medication vapors. The

cation of hole 59 prevents clogging and discomfort of unexpected vacuums. The plunger 40 serves not only to seal hole 59 when the cover 18 is in place, but to lock the cover in position in view of the tapered shape of plunger 40. The projections 34 and 36 which extend into openings 64 and 66 further locate the top 18 in place and seal the inhaler in its closed position.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed Without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claim be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

We claim:

A nasal inhaler comprising a housing, a bottom detachably secured to said housing, said housing having side walls sitting on said bottom and having a top wall extending beyond said side walls, said top wall including a pair of spaced projections, said top wall having a grooved portion between said projections, said top wall having a hole through said grooved portion, said projections having perforations therethrough, a pair of partitions in said housing dividing the interior of said housing into two outer chambers in vertical alignment with said projections and a central chamber between said outer chamber, said bottom having a base wall and having a peripheral wall engaging the inner surfaces of said side walls, said base wall lying substantially flush with said side walls, said peripheral wall defining a compartment in communication with said central chamber, a wadding of an absorbent material in said outer chambers and extending into said projections, said peripheral wall being wedgeshaped, a top detach'ably positioned on said housing, said top having a pair of detents engageable in said perforations for closing said perforations, said top having an elongated tapered plunger depending therefrom, said plunger extending into said hole to seal said hole and to lock said top in a closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 382,113 5/1888 Sharp 128-200 1,340,662 5/1920 Lobl 128-198 1,540,274 6/1925 Moore 128-198 1,950,926 3/1934 Lobl 128-198 2,310,681 2/1943 Derham et al 128-200 2,412,269 12/1946 Hor 128-206 2,421,177 5/1947 Apfelbaum 128-198 2,427,721 9/1947 Goldstein 128-198 2,460,955 2/ 1949 Todd 128-200 2,603,216 7/1952 Taplin et al 128-206 2,604,094 7/1952 Miller et al. 128-206 2,641,254 6/1953 Brown 128-206 2,672,865 3/1954 Willis 128-206 2,745,402 5/ 1956 Dufresme 128-200 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,365 1895 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

DANIEL S. BURKS, JAMES W. HINEY,

Assistant Examiners, 

